Great question. I have to start a rebuild of my turbo later when it gets warmer, as well. Can't afford to tear it apart now. Leewsee1, where you able to find any sites that sells rebuild kits? I have to subscribe to this thread.

 

Gpop shop sells K03 rebuild kits. There's a DIY online somewhere.

 

i have heard of alot of people making witness marks on their shaft and turbine to line them back up when they go to install to keep them from going off balance

 

I have purchased turbo cartridge replacements. It is the entire insides...already balanced. So you simply take off the inlet and outlets and then attach then to the new cartridge. They no longer sell the cartridges unfortunately. I installed a few of them with excellent results.

i have one cartridge remaining with no plans to use it. I paid $200 for it. If someone wants it, please PM me with your email address and I can send you pics of it. I would simply like to get my money out of it.

 

The turbine and the compressor wheel should be balanced during the manufacturing process. However, when assembled as a unit = cartrige (central housing rotating assembly), there are other parts that are not usually balanced (locknut, spacers). That's why it should be balanced as a unit, at least on these turbos, cause they're small and spin very fast. Sometimes you'll see compressors with two ground spots, one when they balanced it individually and one as a unit. I did rebuild mine (I kept the turbine and compressor) with a Gpop Shop kit, without re-balancing it. Of course, aligned the turbine and the compressor. It lasted over 100k, until it got replaced with a K04, but even after removing, there was no in and out play, some side to side, but not too bad. Maybe I got lucky, I don't know. But to be 100% sure, I'd recommend balancing it as a unit if you plan on keeping it for a while. I don't know where to do that, but I'm sure you'll find places around